Can-feeding mechanism



June 26, 1928.

w. CAMERON CAN FEEDING MECHANISM v Filed A ril 13,1925

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mai/Zea)".-

Patented dime 26,1928.

UNITED STATES .IPATENT- O FICE-K WILLIAM cmzanomor cnxcaeo, rumors, assrenon TO. cannon can mcnmmm' conrm, or cnrcae nmmors, A conrom'non or rumors.

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Application meea rn 1a, 1925. Serial no. 2am. I

included). It'is well-known in the art of: can capping machines that mechanlsmheretofore devised for transmitting the can therethrough has been subjected to alternate stops and starts or momentary holding of the can to procure proper spacing. Thls intermittent motion has resulted in the spill- "ing of liquid contents of the cans when filled so that by the time a can reached the cappingmechanism it would not be one hundred per cent full. Furthermore, spacing mechanism employed prior to my in vention for spacing the can bodies apart frequently injured the bodies by jamming or compressing them. v

The primary object of my invention is to accurately-spacethe can bodies apart without either stopping the continuous travel of the bodies and spilling some of, the contents, or injuring the bodies by jamming or distortion. 1 v

.A further object is to provide a mechanism which can be readily appliedto a can capping or other machine employed in this art and one which will deliver to said mechanism the cans in perfect spacing distance for having further operation performed thereon. In addition to the features mentioned, a mechanism embodying my invention is; capable of being quickly and accurately adjusted to accommodate can bodies of various sizes, and is capable of being connected to a machine for can capping, such, for lnstance, as is shown 1n my United.

States Letters Patent granted March 22, 1927, No. 1,621,580, wherein the starwheel designated as 133 may be omitted and the -mechanism herein provided and claimed may be employed instead for spacing the can bodies and without any stopping and starting of the same as is"necessary in the mechanism shown in the application above mentioned. v

The. mechanism herein described and claimed is extremely simple in construction possessing fewer moving and operating provide a spacing mechanism which will .is driven by any'suitab parts than is usual for a mechanism of this character and, because. 05 its simplicity, it .IS extremely accurate an reliable in operation, and also very durable. r

, While I have merely briefly set forth the objects of my invention many more ap arent uses for the same will'be disclose refernce to the drawings submitted herewith Referring to the drawings:

Fig. .1 is a top plan view of my invention; Fig. 2 is a'longitudinalview on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal view of the offcenter or eccentric mechanism on the line 3-3 of Fig. '1. v a

The feeding mechanism as considered in connection with my United States Letters Patent hereinbefore referred to is connected with the feedtable designated in such-patent as 26, and in the present application as 10, and the conveying mechanism in my device consists of a chain 11 extending through a slot 12 in saidtable and at its outer end .over the sprocket wheel 13, while at various .points throughout the said chain are upstanding arms 14 for the purpose hereinafter explained. The width of the feed table 10 is regulated b means of the wall 15 which is adjusta ly mounted. through the slot 16 and the adjustment of the guide rail 16' as hereinafter explained, and between which the can passes to the capping or other machine after it has been properly spaced and placed on. the con.- veyor11.

My improved can mechanism is operated through. the shaft 17 connected with any suitable source of power (not shown) and is The chain 11 which forms the conve' ing means to the-can capping e and the sprocket wheel 13 thereof is provid-- or other mac ine means of power ed on its outer face with a bevel gear 23 which meshes with the pinion 24' on the lower end of the shaft 26 while the upperend of said shaftis held in position by means of the sleeve or nut 27' resting onthe upper face of the frame 28. The collar or mounted in the body 31\ which, as hereinbefore explained, is connected. by any suitable means with the can' capping or other machine. At the outer end of the shaft 30 is a pinion 32 meshing with the pinion 33 on the shaft 34 which is housed in the frame at the-points 36 and 37 and said shaft is also provided with a small bevel gear 38 which meshes with the bevel gear 39 on the lower face of the table 40. This table 40 is rotatable uponthe shaft 35 and said shaft is provided at its lower end with the cap 25 and-screw .45 for holding the same in position. Mounted upon the shaft 26 and within the confines of the frame 28 which is also pivotally mounted on the shaft 26, is a sprocket wheel 41 which carries the sprocket chain 42 and said chain passes over the sprocket wheel '43 carried on the hub por-' tion 44 of the disc 46 which travels upon the small shaft 47 which is supported and held in position above the table '40 by means of the threaded portion 48 being providedwith the nut 49 for resting upon the boss 50 on the frame 28. 1 The sprocket wheel 43 fits onto the reduced portion 51 of said hub and is held in position by means of the bolts or screws 52. The axis of rotation of the disc 46 being in the small shaft 47 will be eccentric to'the axis of rotation of the table 40-carried on the shaft 35 as shown in Figs. 1and3.

Mounted upon the body 31 at a point intermediate the sprockets 41 and 43, and frame 28 is a threaded lug 53 which is provided with a set sprew 54 having a lock nut 55 thereon and the inner end of said screw is adapted to bear against a boss 56 on the side of. the frame 28. At a point immediately opposite and on the other side of the frame 28 is a raised portion 57 having. a,

chamber 58 therein, while a pin 59 extending through the inner end of said portion-5 I 1 bears against a boss 60 on said frame 28.

The outer end of the chamber58 has a threaded portion 61 and a spiral spring 62 is adapted to bear against an enlarged portion 63 on the pin 59, while the outer'end of said chamber has a slotted set screw 64 adjustably mounted by the screw threads 61 so as to procure the desired tension on the s'pring62. 7

.The guide rail 16 is provided at the outer end of the same with a connecting portion 66 b which said rail is adjustably mounted on t e body'31 through thegmedium of the slot 67 and bolt- 68 'so that the said rail can Y be adjusted to provide the proper space he star wheel 22. The outer guide rail 71 ex tends around in close proximity to the outer K edge of the rotatable table 40 and to a point opposite the center of star wheel 22, and is provided atits outer side with an attaching portion 72 adjustable on the body of the machine through the slot 73 and bolt 74.

Having now' described the working parts of my improved can feedin mechanism I will explain the'operation t ereof and the delivery of the cans to the conveyor for passing to a station for further operation. The can bodies one of which I have shown in Fig. 2 in dotted lines and designated by the reference character 76 are placed upon the rotatable table 40 at a position between the point B and the end of the outer guide rail 71 and as the said table rotates the can is brought around into a; position near the inner endof the guide rail 16 where it is engaged by one "of thefingers' or projections 7 O on the star wheel 22 and rests against the said projection and against the inner face of the guide rail 16' from which point itpasses onto the table 10 and is conveyed in the direction of the arrow C to the can capping or other machine for further operation. At the point -where the can leaves theguidev rail 16 it will be properly spaced on the conveyin means. or chain 11 by the end of said rai cooperating with the guide member 15 so as to give it the proper location thereon. To

prevent any slippmg or movement of the can body on the conveying member or chain 11, 'I have provided upstanding arms 14 and the same may be so adjusted in relation to its operation with the star wheel 22 so that one of the upstanding arms will ride behind each' of the can bodies as it passes onto the said conveyor. This would make the spacing distance between the successive cans the same as the spacing distance between the successive upstanding arms 14. The *f0r'egoing description of operation has been where the can has moved into the star wheel recess 69 without any interruption or improper engagement by the fingers or proections of said star wheel.

The frame 28 pivoted on the shaft 26 is capable of beingthrowniout of line with the center line ofthe rotatable table 40 by the adjustment of "the set screw 54 against the boss 56 on said I table sothat the center line of the outer sprocket wheel 43 will be thrown off the vertical axis of rotation of the said table and can .be still further moved so as to create a greater angle, with the center line of said table by pressure placed upon the inner face of the disc 46, which will depress the pin-;'59\bearing against the spring 62in the chamber 58-0 the portion 57. A line therefore drawn between? theaxisof rotation 'of the sprocket 41 and the movable table 40 will bedirectly at right'angles to the line I point hereinbefore explained and it passes around theguide rail 71, should it be im-' "of movement'of the conveyor 11 whilealine drawn-between the center of the sprocket '41 and the axis .of rotation of the outer sprocket 43 will be greater than 90 from a line of travel of the eonveyorll. When the can is set onto the movable table 40 at the properly engaged by the finger or projection 70 on the star wheel 22, that is, should the said projection strike the can along about I a point which I have designated'as F on said can, were there nothing yielding, the finger would press the can against the disc 46 and probablydistort the same.- By reference to Fig. 3 and the gear, connection thereon, it will be a parent'that. the disc 46 travels at a co'nsi erably greater rate. of I speed than the rotatable table so that if the end of the finger or rojection 70 strikes the oint F on the can ody, the outer end oft 1e frame 28 .will be depressed slightly through the action of the boss bearing against the pin 59 and depressing the spring 62 while at the same time the swi ter rotation of the disc 46 will spin the. can body forward from its engagement with the end of the finger or projection 7 0- and-into the immediately preceding recess 69. From this point where the can enters the recess 69 it will pass onto the conveyor 11 as before explained.

been selectedfor illustrative purposes. mere- 7 "the same be improperly en said projections, so as to spm the same and It will thus be-seenthat with the excepe tion of the slight rotation or spinning to which the can is' subjected when it does not properly engage the finger or projection 70 in the star wheel 22, there will be no retarding or stopping and starting, of the filled can whichv would spill the contents thereof,

neither will there be any necessity for stopping the can capping or other machine for the removal. of distorted can bodies.

While I have shown and described in detail a preferred embodiment of .my invention, it should be manifest that the inven tion'is'not limited to the details which have 1y, but is capable of embodiment inmachines differing materially in their construction and mode of operation from that shown and described without departing from the essence of the invention asdefined in the following claims.

I claim: v a v 1. A can feeding mechanism comprising means having projections for properly spacing the can bodies, and continuouslyrotated means adapted to rotate the can body should by'any of break the-engagement thereofand thus prevent distortionof said body.

2. A can feeding mechanism comprising means having rejections for properly spacing the can h ies, and continuously rotated and at a greater rate of s bodies, an

and yieldable means adapted to rotate the can body should the same be improperly en- I gaged by any of said projections, so as to the same and break the engagement s m. at? and thus prevent distortion of said having projections or properly spacing the can bodies, and means .rotating ata greater rate of speed than said table and adapted to rotate-the can body should the same be improperly engaged by any of said projections, so as to break the enga ement thereof and prevent distortion of sai body.

4. A can feeding mechanism comprising a rotatable table carr ing can bodies, means having projections or properly spacing the can bodies, yielding means rotatlng at a greater rate of. speed than said table and adapted to rotate the can body should the same be improperly engaged by any ofsaid projections so as to break theengagement thereof and prevent distortion of said body.

5. A -'can feeding-mechanism comprising 3. A can feeding mechanism comprising a' rotatable table carikyingcan bodies, means a "rotatable table carrying can bodies, means having projections for properly spacing said bodies, and means continuously rotating on a yielding axis normally eccentric to the axis of rotation of said table adapted torotate the can body should the same be im-,

properly engaged by any of said projections so as to spin the same and break the engagement thereof and thus prevent distortion" of said body.

. 6-. A can feeding mechanism comprising a rotatable table carrying can bodies, means havingprojections for properly spacin said e can body should 7. A can feeding mechanism comprising a rotatable table carrying can bodies, means having pro'ections for properly spacin said means rotating on-a yiefilable axis and at a greaterrate of speed than said table and adapted to rotate the can body any of said projections so as to break the engagement thereof and prevent distortion of said body.

8. A can feedingmecha nism comprising a rotatable table carrying can bodies, means having pro'ections foroproperly spacing said bodies, an means rotating on a yielding axis normallyeccentric to the axis of rotashould the same be improperly engaged by tion of said table and at a greater rate of I s than said table and adapted to rotate t 0 can body shouldjthe same be improperly e any of prpjections so as to break the engagement thereofand prevent 9. A can feeding mechanism comprising a distortion of said body.

rotatable table carrying can bodies, means having projections for properlyspacing said bodies, means continuously rotating on an I axis normally eccentric to the axis of rotation of said'table, said means carried by a frame pivoted at a point without the perimeters of said means and said table, said means being adapted torotate the can body should having'projections for properly spacing said bodies, and continuously rotating means carried by a frame pivoted at a point without the perimeters of said means and said tableand adapted to rotate the can body should the same be improperly engaged by any bf said vprojections so as to break the engagement thereofand I body.

prevent distortion of said -11. A can feeding mechanism comprising arotatable table carrying can-bodies, means said table, said means being adapted to rotate the can body should the same be im--' having projectionsef'or properly spacing said bodies, means rotating on an axis-eccentric to the axis of rotation of said table, said rotating means carried by an oscillatory frame)" a I can body by said pro ectlons.

pivoted at a point without the perimeter of properly engaged. by any of said projections so as to break the engagementthereof and prevent distortion of said body.

j 12. In a can feeding mechanism, a supply table, a spacing mem er having projections for spacing the cans, and means rotatin 'at of said table for. spinning said can forward to prevent distortion should the same .improp' erly engage any of said. projections.

13. In a can fcedingmechanism, a supply table, a star wheel for spacing the cans, and" a rotating disc'traveling 'at a greater rate of speed than the speed of saidsupply table,

so that when a projection on said star wheel improperly engages said can, said disc/will spin t e can forward and into the forward recess on said star wheel.

14.. In .a can feeding mechanism, a supply table, can spacing member provided with spaced projections having recesses therebetween, and-a chainoperated disc having a rate of speed greater than the rate of speed of table, so that when aprojection on said spacing member improperlyengages the can body, said disc-will spin the same forward into the forward recess onv said spacing member.

15. In a can feeding mechanism, a circular rotating supply table, a spacing member provided with spaced pro'ectionshaving reces therebetween for spacing the cans, a chain operated-disc carried by an arm pivotally mounted beyond the perimeter of said 0 table, said disc having a greater rate of speed than the rate of speed of saidtable so that when a projection on said spacing member improperly engages said can said disc will spin the same forward and into the forward recess on said spacing member.

1 6. In a can feeding mechanism, a rotating supply table, a spacing member for spacing J the cans, a conveyor onto which said cans are, passed by said spacing member, and a disc continuously rotated by chain driving mechanism mounted in an arm pivoted at a point beyond the perimeter of said supply table, sa d disc being yieldablefto and from, the spacing member so as'to prevent injury to a can impi operly engaged by sald spacing mem r. j j Q 17 A can feeding mechanism comprising a rotatable table, rotatable means having a plurality of projections for properly spacing the can bodies, and continuously rotating '90 yieldable means for preventing injury to the 18. A can feeding mechanism comprising a rotatable table, rotatable means having a plurality of projections for prop-erly spacing the can bodies, and-yieldable rotatable means carried on an arm which is piyoted beyond.

the perimeter ofsaid table for preyenting injury to the can bodies by said pro ections.

20 A can feeding mechanism, a supply means, rotatable means associated with said supply means and having pro ectlons for properly spacing the can bodies delivered thereto by said supply means and rotatable means yieldable in a direction approximately radiallywith respect. to-sa'id second means 1 for preventing injury to the can bodies by said projections.

WILLIAM. oAMERon, 

